Change: Scenes of befouled waterways are set to change with the State Government planning to clean up its water bodies.

The Tamil Nadu Government will seek external funding to implement clean the 214 km of waterways in Chennai Metropolitan area and the 42 lakes that are highly polluted.

According to the budget document for 2013-14, the project for eco-restoration of the three rivers the Cooum, Adyar and the Kosasthaliyar and small canals will be under the aegis of the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust.

The project will be expensive and the State Government will approach external funding agencies.

Eco-restoration will involve upstream treatment, desilting, plugging polluting outfalls, sewage treatment, scientific solid waste management, embankment protection and development of walkways and parks.

The Japanese International Cooperation Agency aided Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project will be continued in the current year with the Government allotting Rs 50 crore.

The water conservation programme and green canopy improvement programme covering degraded forest areas at a cost of Rs 50 crore started last year with National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development will also be continued with an additional allocation of Rs 50 crore.